Whippany Park HS Student Experiences BASF Science Academy

There was little rest for a Whippany Park High School senior during his summer break. Instead of kicking back, Gregory Struble took part in an intensive, hands-on experience at the BASF Science Academy.

According to Molly Rosig of the academy, its summer program is designed “to encourage high achieving high school students to pursue science studies in college and to build their awareness of the variety of careers available to a person with a strong technical background.”

Gregory Struble was one of the high-achieving students who spent July 15-25 living in a dorm at Fairleigh Dickinson University and getting a taste of the college life to come. During his days there, he attended lectures on chemistry and business, worked in labs and participated in various off-site trips. But the program's focus was to dig into creative science projects.

“Students worked in teams to research and develop their own personal care products using BASF materials which included hands-on laboratory experience, consumer research, product design, supply chain planning and marketing," Rosig explained. "They discussed the science behind their products and presented their business plans to a panel of BASF business leaders.”

Struble's group created a lip balm product that wowed the judges.

“We won!” he exclaimed. 

The teen, who said he hopes to pursue engineering in college, enjoyed the product-development challenge.

“It was cool getting to apply what I’ve learned and actually chemically make something,” he said.